We’re pretty proud of our musical heritage in Manchester, and whether you’re an Oasis or Charlatans fan, a Stone Roses or Happy Mondays-lover, or the Ting Tings or Bugzy Malone are more your jam, the city’s music scene has something for everyone. Now, the UK audience has spoken, as this bank holiday Monday (April 1 2024), Radio X listeners named Oasis’ seminal 1994 hit Live Forever as the best British song of all time, 30 years after its release.
Voted for by listeners in Radio X’s annual Best Of British poll – and topping the list for the second year in a row – Live Forever is one of four Oasis tracks making up the top 10, alongside Slide Away, Champagne Supernova, and Don’t Look Back In Anger. Based on votes cast by Radio X listeners, Oasis dominated the top 100 list this year, with 14 songs featured in total.
Coming in second was Queen’s 1975 anthem Bohemian Rhapsody, which moved up one place from last year’s poll. New to the list this year, Nothing But Thieves’ 2023 single Overcome came third, and The Stone Roses’ I Am The Resurrection moved up one place to fifth. Arctic Monkeys’ 505 and the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter place at sixth and seventh respectively.
Having burst onto the scene in 2023, The Last Dinner Party make their debut in the Radio X Best of British chart with their viral hit Nothing Matters. Last year’s breakthrough artist, Wet Leg, make the list again with their hit Wet Dream.
Also this year, Sam Fender’s Seventeen Going Under fell out of the top 10, down seven places to 12th place. David Bowie’s Heroes moved up seven places to 11th, and Pink Floyd moved up 12 places with Wish You Were Here. Tracks from Joy Division, Courteeners, Stereophonics, Paolo Nutini and Skunk Anansie all made the top 20.
As a city famed for its musical heritage, Manchester was the most represented city on the list, with 35 songs from 11 different bands, including tracks from New Order, Blossoms, The Stone Roses, Elbow and The Smiths. Come Together is the only track by Liverpool band The Beatles to make the chart this year.
Rock and indie weren’t the only prominent genres to feature in this year’s list, with dance classics like Faithless‘ Insomnia and The Prodigy‘s Breathe making the cut.
Matt Deverson, Managing Editor of Radio X, said: “Thirty years after its release, it is fitting to see Live Forever retain top spot in this year’s list of the best tunes Britain has to offer.
“While Radio X listeners have given nostalgia a nod, it is also exciting to see contemporary artists like Nothing But Thieves, Wet Leg and The Last Dinner Party come into the fold after another fascinating year in music.”
This great news for Oasis comes as Liam Gallagher suggested that his son Gene’s band will be opening for him on Definitely Maybe anniversary tour. Celebrating 30 years since the seminal Britpop record was released, Liam’s sell-out tour is scheduled to embark on three huge shows at the brand-new Co-op Live arena and after simply replying to a comment on social media, he has now revealed it is the youngest Gallagher boy that will be taking one of the support act slots.
22-year-old Gene is the frontman and guitar player for the recently formed band Villanelle, who are set to start playing across this UK’s festival circuit this year, releasing their first music as they go along. Villanelle will join British indie veterans Cast and The View as supports for LG himself, who has promised to play the Definitely Maybe track list in full to mark the occasion.
Whilst there are only short clips of Villanelle knocking around, you can definitely hear some of that recognisable snarl that Liam became famous for in the vocals and the sound seems plenty reminiscent of what his dad and uncle made so popular back in the 90s and 2000s.
It’s a truly massive year of music for Liam Gallagher, and in addition to playing flat-out with friend and collaborator John Squire at the moment, the Best of British win for Live Forever reiterates how present Oasis still are in Manchester, and all over the country.